Navy Jet Crash Off Virginia Beach, Pilot ‘Critical’

A Navy jet crash off the coast of Virginia has left a pilot in critical condition after he ejected from the plane just before it crashed into the ocean. The Naval Air Forces Atlantic confirmed that the F/A-18-E super Hornet crashed on Wednesday afternoon, around 45 miles off the the coast of Virginia.

The pilot was found by a fisherman, and then taken by Navy helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Even though the pilot was reported to be conscious while on his way to the hospital, his condition has been labeled as “critical.”

The Navy jet crash comes just a week after a Navy helicopter plunged into the sea killing three of the crew members on board. The Navy jet, which was based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, belonged to Strike Fighter Squadron 143. Squadron 143 is part of Carrier Air Wing Seven.

Back in January 8, a Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter plummeted into the ocean just 18 miles from Virginia beach. Even though three crew members tragically lost their lives in that accident, two luckily survived.

Both that helicopter and the Navy jet which crashed today were on routine mine countermeasure training at the time when they crashed. The investigation into the helicopter crash hasn’t yet revealed what caused it.

A full investigation is now underway by authorities to establish what lead to the near fatal Navy jet crash off the coast of Virginia. Some questions are now being asked about the chances of two deadly Naval crashes occurring in the space of a week.

The Navy will doubtless be looking at implementing more stringent safety measures which will hopefully prevent further accidents like the Navy helicopter crash last week, and the Navy jet crash today.